July 4, 1993, Morning, San Diego International Airport: The sun was already rising above the horizon and the airport glistened from the raindrops that had yet to evaporate. In the InGen hangar, the hangar doors were wide open and the DC-3 was prepped and pointed outwards ready to meet the challenges ahead.
Near the rear hatch, Jennifer watched the InGen workers load piece after piece of heavily loaded suitcases into the cargo compartment.
"You know, Tim, this is an airplane not a hotel," Jennifer commented looking at the programmer's remaining suitcases of which there were still quite a few. The programmer laughed at her comment.
"And how many suitcases did you bring?" he requested. "I noticed they were conveniently loaded before I got here so I couldn't see."
"That's none of your damn business," Jennifer lightly warned. "A woman should not be questioned about many things and the amount of stuff she brings with her on a trip is one of them."
"I'll remember that," Tim promised still with a mild grin on his face.
"How did you pay for all this stuff?" asked the female pilot curious. Tim was about to respond to that when two new arrivals entered into the hangar area with their luggage, Peter Ludlow and Stephanie Sandelder.
"Sir," Tim acknowledged as Jennifer turned all business at the new arrivals. Kevin for his part had seen the arrivals from the cockpit and also exited the craft to greet them.
"Kevin, Jennifer, Tim," the COO acknowledged using their first names to try and keep them at ease…plus cover up the fact that if he'd ever learned their last names, he'd long since forgotten them. "What sort of flying weather can we expect on our trip over?"
"Should be smooth sailing," Kevin told him. "Normal winds in the upper and lower atmosphere and it should be sunny with scattered clouds once we reach Nublar."
"Excellent," said Ludlow pleased as he nodded his head before turning to his associate. "This is Stephanie Sandelder, she's an administrative assistant that is transferring to Sorna."
That surprised the trio of InGen workers. "So what brings you our way?" asked Tim asking the obvious question on all their minds.
"With the Lockdown, Sam Stone will have a lot on his plate trying to keep everything running smoothly. I'm just here to assist him and the senior staff on Site B in any way possible," Stephanie said. Which was the truth…even if it was only half of it.
But the mention of the Lockdown was what got their attention and their expressions turned downtrodden at that, a fact not lost on Ludlow.
"Look, I know Samantha explained the Lockdown to you and why it has to be put in place," he began. "But more importantly, it allows you to have a sense of normalcy on Sorna. Nobody will be going anywhere and you will all need each other to weather what is to come as we try to get Jurassic Park: San Diego operational."
The two pilots nodded their heads, but whether they disagreed with the COO or not, both knew to keep their mouths shut. Ludlow consulted his watch and saw it was nearing 7 a.m.
"Shall we go?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful as he hefted his only carry-on, his briefcase. The two pilots nodded and Stephanie's luggage was loaded into the plane. Kevin got into the plane first and headed up front to the cockpit. Sandelder got on next followed by Tim and then Peter Ludlow. The COO was surprised to see two teenagers onboard already who were sitting in their seats fast asleep.
"Kelly Curtis and R.B. Benton from the analysis team," Stephanie softly supplied as she secured her carryon and then sat down. Ludlow nodded his head at hearing the information and then also took a seat in the row ahead of her and slipped his briefcase under the seat in front of him. At the very back, Jennifer secured the cabin door and then walked up the aisle before standing in front of everybody.
"Alright, let's make this quick," she began. "There's no food or entertainment on this flight. If we have to make a landing in the water there's an inflatable lifejacket under your seat. We crash on Sorna and we're all screwed. Any questions see the manual in the seat pocket in front of you. Have a good flight and welcome to InGen Air."
"I want a bag of peanuts!" Tim shouted after her from the back.
"Look on your seat because you already are a nut!" Jennifer shot back as Tim began laughing as the cockpit door slammed shut.
With that she headed to the front. Stephanie eyed the departing female pilot concerned about her attitude before briefly unbuckling her belt and tapping Ludlow on the shoulder.
"Should I…?" she began hesitantly, unsure of whether or not to begin her notes on behavior of the island staff.
"No," said Ludlow dismissively as he briefly snorted. "That's normal behavior for her. And besides, I'm more concerned about the actions of the senior staff and just the general attitudes of the rest of the staff."
Stephanie nodded and then settled back into her seat and buckled her seatbelt and sat back, wondering what she'd gotten herself into and what to expect when she got to Sorna.
Anne B., Pacific Ocean: Sam Stone, his face looking complete green, was squatting near the railing of the ship as it plowed through the ocean.
"Doctor, I think we're losing him!" said Lori Ruso imitating a flighty nurse as she watched the Head of Operations from the deck of the ship. Sam groaned at his subordinate's behavior before he felt something in his throat and he covered up his mouth before getting up and dry heaving over the side of the ship before sitting back down. Behind him, Bobbie Carter was looking through her black bag of medications and seeing what she had on her.
"I only raided the medicine cabinet for standard stuff like headaches, heartburn, and stuff like that. The only things we regularly get by boat are the supply drops so I wasn't expecting seasickness from a member of the staff," she complained. "If anything, I was hoping Jake would get sick and then I wouldn't have to feel bad about not treating him."
"Hey!" said the voice of the male scientist as he too was hunched over near the ship rails, but he wasn't sick he was exhausted from lack of sleep. "It's too early in the morning for your garbage."
He was barely hanging onto consciousness and was struggling to stay awake.
"You fall asleep and I'll push you into the ocean. That'll wake you up real quick," Bobbie warned lightly. Jake grumbled something unintelligible before turning his sleepy attention to Lori.
"Hey nurse, how about some TLC?" he teased. Lori looked at him dimly before turning to Bobbie.
"I think the new patient is too far gone. My recommended treatment is euthanasia!" she said excitedly in her nurse voice.
"While I do agree with your treatment suggestion, I'm afraid it's not worth all the paperwork," Bobbie admitted, feigning disappointment. Lori fake pouted as Jake groaned even more heavily than before.
"Hey Doc, you got any instant coffee in that bag of yours?" Henry teased as he was leaning on the railing next to Jake looking out at the ocean.
"You want coffee go find a diner or drink that sludge in the ship's break room. The good stuff is for medical professionals only," Bobbie lightly snapped at him before sighing. "I can't believe I'm going to be stuck on an island with a bunch of children for the next two and a half months. I think I'll go crazy!"
The boat suddenly lurched heavily in the surf as Sam made a noise and then immediately covered his mouth before quickly standing up and retching over the side of the ship.
"Clean up on Aisle 6!" Jake said as he moved to get out of the way.
"The patient!" shouted Lori in a very flighty voice. Bobbie groaned as she continued rummaging through her bag when she came across a bottle of aspirin that she drilled Jake with before finding some medication to help Sam.
"I knew my instincts wouldn't fail me. Help me get him below deck so we can find him some water," Doctor Carter ordered as Jake and Henry helped lead their boss across the deck with Bobbie and Lori following close behind. Up above in the tower, Samantha Brown watched them before cracking a brief smile at their antics and then entering the radio room. The table was manned by the radio operator who nodded their head at the new arrival and shifted to the side as Samantha took the seat.
"I don't suppose I could have some brief privacy in here?" she wondered. The radio operator looked reluctant at that.
"I am supposed to be on-duty at all times during my shift, but I guess I could refill my water," the operator relented, knowing that she was top brass of the company currently contracting out the services of the Anne B.
"Thank you," said Samantha appreciatively as the radio operator left the room. Samantha instantly grabbed the radio and pulled out her radio log book and twisted it to the appropriate channel.
"CQ, CQ, this is InGen Transportation Leader calling InGen Transportation Base. I repeat this is InGen Transportation Leader calling InGen Transportation Base," Samantha spoke into it.
"Go ahead Transportation Leader," said Daniela St. Ives on the other end with a hint of amusement in her tone at Samantha's use of formality over the radio.
"How're things going over there?" asked Samantha curious. There was a small pause at hearing that.
"We've got the Venture all loaded and ready to sail. In fact, we were just about to shut down the power to the entire island," Daniela admitted, the concern evident on her voice. Samantha nodded her head as that answered her unspoken question about why Daniela had immediately answered her radio call.
"I know things look bad now, but they will get better, I promise," said the Board Member, hoping her words wouldn't sound hollow.
"Yeah," said Daniela softly on the other end wanting to believe it but having her gut tell her otherwise. Samantha sighed briefly.
"When we both get to Nublar, there'll be a little bit of time before Ludlow shows up to give his speech. I'll brief you on the Venture about the…contingency plan," Samantha said reluctantly, not wanting to bring up the subject in view of everything else going on, but having no choice.
"Right," said Daniela, hoping that subject could've been avoided a little while longer but knowing that was impossible. "Look, I don't want to cut this short, but our ride is ready to leave for our rendezvous."
"Roger that," said Samantha willing to put the conversation on hold for now until they met in-person. "Have a safe trip."
"Thanks," said Daniela. "This is the final transmission of InGen's Site C Facility located on Isla Indigo. Over and out."
Samantha silently switched the radio channel back to the standard frequency before clasping her hands in front of her face and staring at the radio unit. A soft knock was heard at the door immediately diverting her attention as the radio operator opened the door and peeked in his head. Samantha gave him a silent acknowledgment and left the room. She walked down the hallway and passed the group who had been outside and were now in the mess hall sans Bobbie and Sam who were apparently in the medical bay.
Continuing on, she entered into a small cabin that had been designated hers and sat down at the small table that was slightly rocking because from the waves outside. She then reached into her satchel and retrieved her E.L.E. binder and began flipping through it. Finally reaching the section on the timeline of rolling out the contingency plan, the Board Member then retrieved a second binder regarding InGen's plans for opening the San Diego facility and began cross-comparing the two.
San Diego, California: Sarah Harding was sitting at the dining room table with her mother as Jess Harding was in front of the television playing her Sega Genesis.
"So she still doesn't remember anything about what happened?" asked her mother concerned. Sarah shook her head.
"She said something about a place called Jurassic Park, screamed real loud, and passed out," Sarah told her as she took a sip of her glass of water. "I was taking her to the hospital when she came out of it and after telling her what happened, she just gave me a clueless look about it all. She didn't remember anything about what had happened for the whole time we were talking to my friend at Berkeley or after until she woke up in my jeep."
"So, then what did you do?" asked Mrs. Harding. Sarah shrugged helplessly.
"I'm not a psychiatrist but I didn't see anything wrong with her so we came here like I originally planned," the animal behaviorist confessed. "Was that wrong?"
Mrs. Harding shrugged helplessly. "When she came back from wherever she was, I took her to every psychiatrist in the phonebook. They didn't have anything useful to say about her memories coming back; only that they would in time."
"Which is a luxury I don't have," Sarah stated ruefully before deciding to change topics to something that might give her more insight into her search for information. "I don't suppose 'Jurassic Park' means anything to you?"
"Actually it does," her mother revealed to Sarah's surprise. The San Diego University Researcher was very surprised at that.
"So what is it?" Sarah had to ask, needing to know the answer to this perpetual mystery of where her father was.
"Well I don't think it's what Jessica was referring to, but Jurassic Park is the name of that amphitheater InGen built out near the Bay," her mother told her. "Your father took my there once for a company outing."
That registered with Sarah as she took out her notebook and wrote it down. "I forgot about that place," she remarked, feeling the whole building was one of the most bizarre things she'd ever seen.
"Well apparently, they're going to start up construction on it again," her mother said as she got up and went over to her stack of mail and pulled out the mailer she'd gotten from InGen and handed it to her daughter. She read the article which didn't say much and then put it in her lucky pack before getting up.
"I'll be out for a little while," she told her mother and headed for the door.
"Can I come?" Jess called after her. The older sister shook her head.
"I'll just be downtown for a little bit and then I'll be back for dinner," she told her younger sister. "Too bad dad's not here for one of his Fourth of July barbecues."
"Yeah, who needs fireworks when the grill always goes up in flames," Jess commented evilly. And with that Sarah was gone, headed for a certain amphitheater and for what she hoped were more answers to her questions.
Site C, Isla Indigo: Daniela St. Ives found herself staring at the computer in front of her as it sat there patiently awaiting a command she didn't want to input.
"Boss?" said a voice drawing her attention as she looked to the edge of the room and saw her secretary waiting there. "It's time to go."
Daniela let a long breath and nodded her head as the secretary left the room. The Head of Indigo looked at the computer once more and typed in the command with disgust. She then left the room as the computers shut down along with the lights and the power. She then followed the natural light which led her to the outside doors of the island's Visitors Center and she found herself standing in front of the island's workers who looked at her expectantly for saying what the future held.
Nodding her head briefly, acknowledging their apprehension, she said the only thing that came to her mind.
"When General Douglas MacArthur left the Philippine Islands at the beginning of World War II, he could only tell the people who lived there, 'I will return'. And he did," she informed her group. "Well, I won't be returning to this island," she told them solemnly. The workers reacted to her statement with a mixture of shock and fear.
"We will be returning to this island," Daniela swore.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Jurassic Park Amphitheater, San Diego: Sarah Harding was standing on the sidewalk looking at the gaudy building in the distance trying to figure out what its purpose was. Ordinarily, she could've gone in with the regular influx of tourists, but right now the entire location was sealed off with temporary chain link fences. The signage placed on the fences indicated construction was set to begin and that was easily apparent as tower cranes were being constructed, scaffolding was erected around the amphitheater, and construction equipment could be seen above the top of the fence. Taking out her binoculars, she focused in on the large gate at one end of the structure and saw the lettering at the top with the words "Jurassic Park".
"But what does it mean?" the animal behaviorist wondered desperately. All the times her father had offered to take her to the amphitheatre and now she couldn't get in to try and unravel the mysteries of InGen.
"It's an interesting building if you ever have the chance to go inside," said a voice next to her, startling the scientist out of her reverie. Turning to the source of the voice, she sighed in frustration at who she saw. In the jungle and in civilization she could pick up the movement of any individual and know where they were and what direction they were going and yet her mysterious informant managed to be so incredibly elusive it drove her crazy.
"I wouldn't know," Sarah said icily. Unperturbed, the man reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a weathered tourist map of the building.
"Maybe this will help," he offered. Sarah eagerly took it although giving an appearance to the contrary and casually leafed through it while methodically absorbing all the information within.
"Tell me, how was the Dominican Republic?" asked the man, curious. Sarah scowled briefly at the man's ease of tracking her whereabouts.
"Warm," Sarah said and nothing else.
The man laughed.
Later, Isla Nublar: The SS Venture and Anne B. both pulled into port and their passengers began to disembark.
"Did they seriously demolish this entire island in only three days?" asked Jake incredulously.
"The crews have demolished the larger buildings already for example the Visitors Center, the lodge, the Raptor Pen, et cetera. Right now the teams should be focused on taking apart the fences, moats, and motion trackers out in the park," Nicolette Stefrassa supplied. "So the majority of the work is already done but they will need another week or so to properly clean the island of all traces of InGen ever being here."
"Unbelievable," said Jake shaking his head. That four years of work could be undone in the span of a couple of weeks was still something not easy to accept.
"Hello everyone," said Samantha with a megaphone as she addressed the InGen personnel. "There should be a food truck arriving soon if you're hungry. Otherwise, you can do whatever you want for the next forty-five minutes or so but then it'll be back on the SS Venture which will take you to your new home on Isla Sorna. So I wouldn't go very far. We only think we've gotten rid of all the natives on this island," she teased. That got some of the workers attentions who decided against heading any further into the interior of the island.
"I don't suppose I could go with them when they leave?" asked Jake hopeful. Samantha shook her head.
"And if you keep this up, I'll have the plane leave you here," she promised and then walked off to go speak with Ed Regis who had just shown up in a jeep. As soon as she was gone, Daniela St. Ives walked up the group of senior staff of Sorna.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's Danno!" said Lori Ruso giving her a big hug. "How have you been, girl, long time no see!"
"Good to see you too, LoRu," said Daniela with a smile before nodding her head at Jake and Henry. "Those two not drive you crazy yet?"
"Ha, no," said Lori shaking her head. "The inspection tour I'm leading on the other hand…"
Richard Levine, Martin Gutierrez, and Jack Thorne disembarked from the boat and looked around the island. Levine immediately spotted Samantha and took a couple of steps towards her when Thorne put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Levine looked a little steamed at being stopped, but he then nodded his head and subsequently marched off towards the interior of the island. Samantha and Regis watched him go but did nothing to stop him. After a couple more minutes of talking, Samantha then approached the group.
"Okay, here's today's agenda," the Board Member began. "In a few moments a pair of vehicles will be along to take you to the interior of the island. You'll then wait at the deconstruction hub until they crews have finished setting up the chairs and podium near the front gate. Then Ludlow will give his keynote speech and then you'll fly back to Sorna and he and I will be leaving on the Anne B. back to San Diego."
"You're leaving us already?" asked Bobbie, concerned.
"I have to," said Samantha frankly. "I'm no good to you here because the boardroom is where the decisions about your future are being made. I'll come back as often as I can but believe me when I say that my being here won't stop decisions from being made that will still affect you regardless of the Lockdown. I can only wonder what Ludlow and Ross have been up over the past couple of weeks that I've been bouncing between Sorna and Nublar."
Even though they knew it was the truth, it didn't sit well with the senior staff. They each felt that having Samantha with them meant they'd at least be kept aware of the decisions the Board was making. Without her, they knew they'd mainly be left in the dark and that scared them, especially with their lives on the line if the fences failed.
"Look, above all else do not give them a reason to come down on you," Samantha insisted. "It's bad enough you're under lockdown but it could get worse, you never know. Just keep doing your jobs, don't do anything stupid, and everything will work out. I promise."
She intentionally shared a glance with Jake and Henry who lightly tipped their heads at her, but otherwise kept quiet. The two vehicles intended to transport them rolled up behind her and the workers filed past her.
"Hey, Daniela, if you want we can talk about the merger while we have time to kill," Lori offered.
"Actually, I'll need to speak with her here about a few things while you head on," said Samantha abruptly cutting in. That surprised the Head of Production.
"Is it about the merger because I can…," Lori began when Samantha held up her hand while shaking her head.
"Its administrative stuff that I don't want to bore you with," she said lightly while leading Daniela away. "We'll see you at the reception."
Lori watched them go, still perplexed-especially because Daniela looked like she was being sent to the gallows-before turning around and joining the others in the vehicles as they then rolled off into the island.
Biosyn HQ, San Diego, California: Lewis Dodgson sat at his desk listening to the radio when his door opened and Ed James and Howard King timidly walked in.
"Gentlemen, sorry I was unable to meet up with you in Costa Rica or at the airport, but of course I can't afford to tip my hand too much on something I'm not supposed to be involved in," Dodgson began. It wasn't really an apology, just a way of verbally denying all responsibility for what had happened to avoid any accountability later.
"Yes sir," both subordinates automatically acknowledged.
"So," began their boss darkly. "How did it go?"
King and James looked at each hesitantly before turning to their boss and broad smiles broke across their faces.
"Everything went as planned, sir," began James.
"John Brown successfully made off with the embryo canister," King finished. Dodgson looked at them for a moment before a malicious grin spread across his face.
"Excellent," he began, pleased. "John Brown has just handed himself the keys to his own destruction…"